	Site Map \| FAQ in Daily Almanac for Nov 8, 2009 Search White Pages
Skip Navigation Home American Indian Heritage Month Atlas Encyclopedia Dictionary Thesaurus Features Quizzes Timelines Countries Slideshows

Polynesian Words

Asian loan words in English

Hawaiian: hula; luau; ukelele, from words meaning "flea jumping."
Tahitian: tattoo, introduced to the English-speaking world by Capt. James Cook in his account of his voyage around the world from 1768 to1771. Sailors later brought the actual custom to Europe.
Tongan: taboo, like tattoo, occurs for the first time in Capt. James Cook's journals.